Associate Director, IT Operations and Enterprise Applications

IT Operations Leader South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities. Our Corporate Functions team is the “enablement engine” of South Pole. Behind the scenes, we provide the business with world-class solutions and best practices that sustain business growth and success. We cover key areas such as Finance, HR, Office Management, Legal, IT, Operations, etc. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you! Job summary: A committed, hands-on leader serving as the single point of accountability for South Pole's entire IT operations function — owning the corporate technology stack, enterprise applications, end-user support, and IT outsourcing relationships across 20+ countries. Brings energy and ownership to keeping employees productive, sets clear expectations with stakeholders and vendors, and consistently delivers. Main tasks & responsibilities: Lead and line manage the IT operations & enterprise applications team — setting priorities, driving quality of delivery, and developing the team Own the operational IT roadmap across GWS / Microsoft 365, MDM, network, SaaS stack, ERP/CRM, and iPaaS integrations Govern Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (Azure AD) at an architectural level, ensuring security compliance and lifecycle management Oversee MDM strategy and tooling (Intune / Jamf) for endpoint compliance across all geographies Manage network, VPN, and office connectivity across South Pole's global locations Own the SaaS application portfolio — licence governance, access reviews, renewals, and rationalisation Govern ERP and CRM administration — configuration integrity, data quality, and Finance / Commercial stakeholder liaison Manage IT outsourcing relationships — service desk vendor, managed service providers, and specialist contractors — holding them to SLAs and quality standards Lead vendor management for all IT operational technology suppliers — contract renewals, performance reviews, and escalations Coordinate multi-timezone IT support, ensuring a consistent end-user experience across South Pole's 20+ country footprint Govern ITSM practice — ticket workflows, escalation paths, SLA reporting, and continual service improvement Act as primary business stakeholder liaison for IT operations, translating business needs into IT service changes Drive the adoption and implementation of AI/ML tools to automate and optimize key IT operations workflows (e.g., ITSM, monitoring, and proactive support). Work closely with the Security Lead to ensure operational IT meets security and compliance requirements Requirements: Essential 7+ years in IT operations or IT management, with 3+ years in a leadership role managing a team Hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and MDM platforms (Intune / Jamf) Familiarity with GWS (Google Workspace) in addition to Microsoft 365 Proven vendor management and IT outsourcing management experience - contract negotiation, SLA governance, and performance management Strong ITSM background (Jira Service Management, or equivalent) Experience managing a SaaS application portfolio ERP and/or CRM administration or oversight experience Track record of leading distributed IT support across multiple time zones and geographies Budget management and financial governance experience Desirable ITIL v4 certification Experience in a global professional services, climate, or sustainability organisation Microsoft 365 or Azure certifications Network and VPN infrastructure management experience at an enterprise scale Familiarity with Microsoft Power Platform or equivalent low-code automation Technical Skills M365 GWS/GCP Entra ID · MDM (Intune/Jamf) Network / VPN SaaS governance ERP / CRM administration iPaaS / integration tooling · ITSM AI Skills AI-assisted IT operations awareness Leadership / Soft Skills Team leadership Vendor management IT outsourcing management Business stakeholder liaison Budget ownership Multi-timezone coordination At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. Department Corporate Services Locations Milan Remote status Hybrid Milan Work-life balance From flexible working hours to flexible workplace (home office), with above-average vacation allowances, we strive to make the work and family life puzzle an easy one for our employees. Flexible Vacation Benefits Options to buy up to 5 extra days of time off. Life Insurance Available to all employees across the world. Care for your Wellbeing Access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program (TELUS Health). Parental leave Should any of our employees need to take time off the Iceberg as a result of a new addition to their household, we are happy to be able to offer competitive Paid Parental leave to support them during this time. Compassionate Leave Sometimes life is unpredictable, and when unfortunate events occur, we want to give you peace of mind so you feel fully supported during this time. What makes us unique At South Pole, we are first and foremost a purpose-driven Company . People join us because they believe in our mission and want to be part of a community that fights together for our shared values and beliefs. But that is not the only reason why working at South Pole is such a rewarding experience. We know that our vision to help create a greener world is both bold and challenging. To achieve it, we settle for nothing less than the absolute best. We form a Community that is stronger than the sum of its parts. Entrepreneurial at heart. It’s not just our founders who are entrepreneurs. We actively promote an innovative mindset at all levels of the organisation, where each and every employee is encouraged to challenge the status quo and empowered to make decisions. Growing employees in a growing company. With a team of smart, passionate and engaged colleagues, as well as increasing demand from our clients, opportunities to learn, develop our skills and grow our careers are endless. All for one, and one for all! Above all other things, what truly drives our dedication and commitment to our purpose is our colleagues. We learn from each other and grow together. Because that is who Penguins are. About South Pole Our story began in Zurich, with 5 friends* in 2002. They had a belief and a vision to shape and change the future of the world through climate empowerment, education and projects with their non-profit organisation; MyClimate. These ‘social entrepreneurs’ went on to pioneer climate change with the introduction of South Pole in 2006*. More than 20 years on, with the support of some of the most passionate and talented entrepreneurs around them, who are empowered to all play their part and with their founding belief in aligning purpose with passion, people and profit, they have created South Pole, an organisation that has gone onto positively impact the lives of over 20 million people across the world through its projects, saving over 20,000 km2 of forests from deforestation. *Patrick Bürgi, Thomas Camerata, Renat Heuberger, Ingo Puhl, and Christoph Sutter *2006 Joined by Marco Hirsbrunner and Christoph Grobel Founded in 2006